Toothbrush



June 18, 1963 w. WIENER TOOTI-IBRUSH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 50, 1959 WWH mM N 2 R V T k\\ 4 .NM mm M N.

June 18, 1963 w. WIENER 3,094,130

TOOTHBRUSH Filed March 50, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MAL/fin! ME/VE/P ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,094,130 Patented June 18, 1963' 3,094,130 TOOTHBRUSH William Wiener, 1160 Ocean Ave, Brooklyn, NY. Filed Mar. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 803,048 4 Claims. (Cl. 132-84) There have been many types of fountain tooth brushes heretofore proposed and described, but these have experienced no commercial success. They possess numerous disadvantages and drawbacks which have rendered them unacceptable. These fountain toothbrushes have been characterized by complexity, high cost and dimcult use. In addition, (they are unreliable and poorly dispense and distribute the dentifrice. The refilling of these fountain toothbrushes are often difficult and messy and their malfunctioning common.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved fountain type toothbrush Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide an improved fountain type toothbrush having a replaceable dentifrice-containing cartridge.

A further object thereof is to provide such a fountain toothbrush in which the fluid dentifrice is under gas pressure while in the cartridge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fountain toothbrush of the above nature in which the dentifrice is dispensed on the brush bristles in an optimum manner.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved fountain toothbrush of the above type characterized by its ease and efiiciency of operation, ruggedness and relatively low cost.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is an exploded front elevational view of a fountain toothbrush embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled toothbrush;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional longitudinal view of the cartridge valve structure;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan View of the brush head;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIGURE 7 of another form of toothbrush head embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken along line 88 in FIGURE 9 of still another form of toothbrush head embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view thereof;

- FIGURE 10 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken along line Ill-10 in FIGURE 11 of a further form of toothbrush head embodying the present invention; and

FIGURE 11is a top plan view thereof.

In essence, the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved fountain toothbrush comprising a head having a set of upstanding bristles, a nozzle having a forwardly facing opening directed toward and into said set of bristles between the top and bottom thereof and extending rearwardly from said head, a'cartridge containing a liquid dentifrice under gaseous pressure, a normally closed valve carried by said cartridge and affording communication with the interior thereof and having a discharge opening, and means separably coupling said nozzle to said valve discharge opening.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of a valved cartridge containing a liquid dentifrice under gaseous pressure and provided with an outlet tube and valve actuating element which is releasably coupled to a nozzle directed toward the toothbrush bristles, the valve being actuated by urging the cartridge toward the brush head.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral 10 generally designates the improved loaded toothbrush in capped condition which includes a toothbrush head all, a two piece handle-defining barrel member 12, a dentifrice containing cartridge 13, and a closure cap 14. The brush head consists of a flat-topped forward base member 16 provided with a rearwardly wall coplanar with the lower wall of the base 16 and an upper wall extending rear- War-dly and upwardly from a vertical shoulder 18 to an externally threaded cylindrical coupling end section 19. A group of tufts 20 of bristles formed of any suitable material are arranged in a group of laterally and transversely extending lines of tufts (see FIG. 5) and have their bases embedded in the base 16 in the usual manner. The tufts are preferably omitted from the rearward medial portion of the group to define a rearwardly directed recess in the group of tufts. An axially extending longitudinal bore 21 is formed in the shank -17 and extends to the vertical shoulder 18 through a forwardly facing opening directed at the bristle tufts 20 surrounding the rearwardly directed recess formed therein. The bore 21 terminates at its trailing end in a cylindrical well 22 of enlarged cross-section which defines a coupling socket.

It should be noted that the brush head base and shank, 16 and 17 respectively, are integrally formed preferably of a material such as methyl methacrylate, polystyrene or the like.

Barrel 12 includes a coupling section 23 and a main barrel section 24 separably secured in axial end-to-end relationshpi. The coupling section 23 is formed of sheet metal and has internal and external threads formed at its lead end, the internal thread releasably engaging thread portion 19 of the brush head 11. The trailing portion of the coupling section 23 is enlarged as at 26 and is internally threaded.

The main barrel sect-ion 24 is of elongated, preferably tubular, shape having an external thread formed at its leading end which releasably engages the coupling section threaded portion 26. Forward of the trailing end of the barrel section 24 there is formed an inwardly directed annular head 27, an annulus 28 being disposed in the barrel section 24 and bearing against the trailing shoulder of the bead 27. A finger manipulated plunger 29' is provided with a shank which extends forwardly through the opening in the annulus 28 and rearwardly through an opening 30 formed in the trailing wall of the barrel section 24, the opening 30 being surrounded by an inwardly directed flange 32. A collar 33 is formed on the plungershank and is disposed within the barrel section 24 posterior to the annulus 28. Entrapped between the confronting faces of the annulus 28 and the collar 33 is a helical compression spring 34 which normally urges the plunger 29 to a retracted rearward position. The plunger terminates at its posterior end in a finger manipulating head 36.

Replaceable cartridge 13 includes an elongated cylindrical metal container 37 (see FIG. 3) closed at its trailing end and having a circular opening 38 formed at its forward end, the opening 38 being surrounded by an annular flange 39 directed inwardly from the walls of the container 37. The container wall immediately posterior to the flange 39 is beaded outwardly and inwardly to provide an inwardly directed circular groove 40 of roughly U-shaped transverse cross-section.

A normally closed valve is located within the container 37 and includes a cup-shaped valve body member 41 hav ing an outwardly directed annular lip 41a along its forward border which snugly nests between the forward inner wall of the groove 4t} and the inner wall of flange 39. A stub conduit 42 depends from the rear wall of the valve body member 41 and communicates with the interior thereof. A tube 43 embraces the conduit 42 and extends toward the rear of the container 37. A cylindrical valve member 44 of smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the cup 41 is located within the cup 41 and is provided with a rearwardly extending conically shaped section 46 the base of which is separated from the annular wall of the valve member 44 by an annular shoulder 47. A helical compression spring 4-8 is entrapped between the confronting face of a washer 49 resting against the inner surface of the rear wall of the cup-shaped valve body 41 and the valve member annular shoulder 47, to urge the valve member to its advanced closed position.

An annular gasket 50 formed of a suitably resilient material such as rubber or the like is secured to the forward face of the flange 39 and is provided with an axially formed circular opening 51 of smaller cross-section than the container opening 38. Projecting forwardly from the valve member 44 and coaxial therewith is a tubular coupling member 52 having a base portion 53 of smaller outer diameter snugly registering with the gasket opening 51 and joined to the remainder of the coupling element 52 by an outwardly flared wall 54. The tubular base portion 53 has a radially extending opening 56 formed in the wall thereof communicating with the interior of the coupling member 52 and defining a valve outlet opening which is normally in registry with and closed by the confronting face of the resilient gasket 50. In assembled condition the leading end of the coupling element 52 nests in and registers with the socket 22.

The cartridge 13, when filled, contains a fluid dentifrice such as toothpaste, tooth cream, a liquid dentifrice or a dentifrice formed of any other suitable flowable material as well as a relatively inert gas under pressure. The gas may be carbon dioxide, nitrogen or other non-toxic gas which does not adversely affect the contents of the cartridge. Upon depression of the coupling member 52 relative to the container 37 the valve member 44 and the coupling member 52 are moved inwardly until the valve opening 56 is uncovered by the gasket 50 and is exposed to the interior of the valve cup 41 which is normally filled with the fluid dentifrice. The gas pressure forces the dentrifice through the opening and along the tubular coupling element 52 and bore 21 from which it is directed toward the bristles 20. In order'to protect the brush head 11 and facilitate the carrying of the fountain toothbrush there is provided a cap member 14 having an internally threaded trailing end 57 which releasably engages the external thread formed on the leading end of the coupling member 23. Ventilating openings 58 are formed in the cap member which is provided with a resilient clip 59.

In inserting the cartridge the coupling tube 52 is nested in the socket 22 and the barrel coupling section is screwed onto the end of the shank 17. Thereafter, the main barrel section 24 is screwed into the coupling section trailing end 26 to complete the loading and assembly of the improved fountain toothbrush. In order to deliver the liquid dentifrice to the head of the brush the plunger 29 is depressed by way of the head 36 urging the cartridge 13 forwardly so as to effect the relative depressing of the coupling element 52 exposing the valve opening 56 to the interior of the container 37. The dentifrice is forced outwardly by the gas pressure within the container 37 through the coupling member 52 and the bore 21 and is directed against the brush bristles, which act as bafiies to prevent the unrestricted passage of the dentifrice to and beyond the forward end of toothbrush head 11. The bristles may be so placed as to channel the propelled dentifrice evenly about the bristles. The rearwardly directed cavity of the tuft group provides a space through which the dentifrice may be propelled and a storage area for such dentifrice as may remain in it. As a result of the orientation of the outlet opening of the bore 21 opening in a vertically extending wall to the rear of the bristles and the configuration of the group of bristles a uniform and effective distribution of the dentifrice about the bristles is effected. Upon sulficient dentifrice having been dispensed, the plunger is released and the cartridge is urged rearwardly by the valve compression spring 48 resulting in a closing of the valve. Alternately, a measured release valve may be employed so that upon depression of plunger 29, a predetermined amount of dentifrice is dispensed irrespective of how long the plunger may remain depressed. In order to replace a spent cartridge 13, the brush head is merely unscrewed from the barrel, the spent cartridge removed, and a fresh cartridge reinserted. The brush may then be reassembled in the manner above set forth.

The embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGURES 6 through 11 of the drawings differ from that described above only in the structure of the toothbrush head and the arrangement for effecting the optimum distribution of the dispensed dentifrice. In all other respects these latter devices are identical to the earlier embodiment. More particularly, referring to FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawings the toothbrush head 11 includes the base member 16 provided with the rearwardly projecting shank 17 having an upper portion located on the upper face of the base 16. The upper shank portion 17 has a tapered leading end 71 extending forward of the trailing end of the base 16. A bore 21 is formed in the shank, as aforesaid, and terminates in a forwardly directed discharge opening 72 at the level of the top face of the base 16 and at the front of the shank leading end 71. Formed integrally with the base 16 a short distance forward of the discharge opening 72 is an upright bafile defining abutment 73 having a rearwardly directed curved surface 74 facing :the discharge opening 72. The bristle tufts 20 are rectilinearly arranged in the usual manner except that the rear medial tufts are omitted in the area of the abutment 73, which is medially slightly rearwardly located and there is an unimpeded path between the abutment 73 and the nozzle discharge opening 72. It should be noted that the height of the abutment 73 is considerably less than that of the tooth brush bristles.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention last I described is similar to the operation of the first described embodiment except that the dentifrice issuing from the discharge opening 72 impinges upon the abutment curved surface 74 and is thereby distributed about the bristles in an optimum manner.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9 of rthe drawing is similar to that illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 differing therefrom only in the omission of the abutment 73 and the extension of the nozzle as delineated by the shank tapered portion 71 forwardly to the point originally occupied by the abutment 73. The discharge opening 72 is thus located approximately one quarter forward along the area of the bristles and is directed at a bristle tuft located forwardly of the discharge opening. The dentifrice issuing from the nozzle impinges upon the aligned medial bristle tuft which promotes the desired distribution of the dentifrice.

In FIGURES l0 and 11 of the drawing there is illustrated still another embodiment of the present invention differing from that last described and illustrated in FIG- URES 8 and 9 of the drawing only in that the medially located bristle tuft 76 confronting the nozzle discharge opening 72 is upwardly forwardly inclined at an angle of approximately 30 to the vertical. This appreciably improves the distribution of the dispensed dentifrice. The bristle tuft 76 may be angulated in any suitable manner such as by providing an angularly disposed anchoring bore in the base 16. It should be noted that the angle of the bristle tuft 76 may be other than approximately 30, the optimum angle depending on the various parameters.

While there has been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, while the barrel 12 has been illustrated and described as being formed of two sections it may be formed of a single seotion. So too, a cap need not be provided, in which event instead of being independently portable, the resulting toothbrush may be used in conventional fashion.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved fountain toothbrush comprising a head having a group of substantially vertical upstanding bristles, said group of bristles having a rearwardly directed recess formed therein, the bristles at the forward base of said recess being upwardly forwardly inclined, a nozzle having a forwardly facing opening substantially horizontally directed at said inclined bristles and extending rearwardly from said head, a cartridge containing a liquid dentifrice under gaseous pressure, a normally closed valve carried by said cartridge and afiording communication with the interior thereof and having a discharge opening, and means separably coupling said nozzle to said valve discharge opening.

2. An improved fountain toothbrush comprising a head having a group of substantially vertical upstanding bristles, said group of bristles having a rearwardly directed recess formed therein, a stream deflecting b'afile mounted on said head and located in said recess said baifie having a rearwardly facing forwardly upwardly inclined surface, a nozzle having a discharge opening substantially horizontally directed forwardly at said baifle inclined surface and extending rearwardly from said head, a cartridge containing a liquid dentifrice under gaseous pressure, a normally closed valve carried by said cartridge and affording communication with the interior thereof and having a discharge opening, and means separably coupling said nozzle to said valve discharge opening.

'3. An improved fountain toothbrush comprising a head having a group of substantially vertical upstanding bristles, said group of bristles having a rearwardly directed recess formed therein, a stream deflecting bafiie mounted on said head and located in said recess said baflie having a rearwardly facing surface, a nozzle having a discharge opening substantially horizontally directed forwardly at said baffle rearwardly facing surface and extending rearwardly from said head, a cartridge containing a liquid dentifrice under gaseous pressure, a normally closed valve carried by said cartridge and affording communication with the interior thereof and having a discharge opening, and means separably coupling said nozzle to said valve discharge opening.

4. A fountain toothbrush comprising a head including a forward group of spaced upstanding bristles and a pair of transversely spaced substantially parallel sets of upstanding bristles positioned rearwardly of said group of bristles and delineating therewith a rearwardly directed well, a nozzle having a forward opening positioned between said pair of parallel sets of bristles and directed toward said forward group of bristles, said forward opening being located substantially at the level of the base of said bristles and said nozzle extending rearwardly from said head, a reservoir containing a toothpaste under pressure, and means including a normally closed valve connecting said nozzle .to said reservoir.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,276,641 Ball Mar. 17, 1942 2,282,730 Kraft May 12, 1942 2,575,124 Pollitt Nov. 13, 1951 2,652,949 Martin Sept. 22, 1953 2,673,008 Ryan Mar. 23, 1954 2,806,238 Wisey Sept. 17, 1957 2,900,651 Powell Aug. 25, 1959 

1. AN IMPROVED FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH COMPRISING A HEAD HAVING A GROUP OF SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL UPSTANDING BRISTLES, SAID GROUP OF BRISTLES HAVING A REARWARDLY DIRECTED RECESS FORMED THEREIN, THE BRISTLES AT THE FORWARD BASE OF SAID RECESS BEING UPWARDLY FORWARDLY INCLINED, A NOZZLE HAVING A FORWARDLY FACING OPENING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY DIRECTED AT SAID INCLINED BRISTLES AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID HEAD, A CARTRIDGE CONTAINING A LIQUID DENTIFRICE UNDER GASEOUS PRESSURE, A NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE CARRIED BY SAID CARTRIDGE AND AFFORDING COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR THEREOF AND HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING, AND MEANS SEPARABLY COUPLING SAID NOZZLE TO SAID VALVE DISCHARGE OPENING. 